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Islam
Introduction
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Islam is one of the 3 major monotheistic
religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Unlike Judaism and Christianity, its origin is from
man, rather than God. (cf. Matthew 15:9)
Islam has evolved as a religion, culture and
polity. It had its origins in the teaching of
Muhammed, (570 – 632 AD)
There is a “spectrum” of political, cultural and
religious sects and subsects that identify as
adherants of Islam. These sects have been and
are in conflict (sometimes physical warfare).
Origin & History
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Muhammed was born into a polytheistic culture
in Mecca (in modern Saudi Arabia).
Muhammed claimed at age 40 to begin to
receive revelations, as the angel Gabriel
appeared to him.
Allah (the one God). Islam (surrender) din (the
only way or religion to be acceptable to Him.
His preaching endangered him, necessitating him
to flee to Medinah at age 52 (622 AD). (This
would signify the rise of Islam as a religion).
After warring with polytheistic tribes in Mecca,
he was victorious (630 AD). He fell ill and died in
632 AD. By his death, the Arabian peninsula had
been unified under Islam into one polity.
At his death, the Muslim world was divided into
two major sects: 1) Sunni, believed at
Muhammed’s death, consensus should
determine the next Caliph or leader (84-90%); 2)
Shia – Shi’ites, believed that a fleshly descendent
of Muhammed (Imam) should be the next Caliph.
(10-16%). Sects remain to this day.
Subsequent Caliphates and the expansion of the
Ottoman Empire (1299-1922) led to the
establishment and consolidation of the Muslim
world.
Crusades: Conflict between Catholicism and
Islam. (Some historians count seven major
Crusades and a number of minor ones from 1096
to 1291).
Note: The city of Jerusalem, and the Bible lands
are an area of dispute between Jews,
“Christians” and Muslims. The “Dome of the
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Rock”, (691 AD) is considered the 3rd most sacred
place by Muslims. Believed to be the place from
which Muhammed ascended into heaven (his
Night Journey).
1.62 billion people (23% of world’s population).
Second largest religion (“Christianity”), fastest
growing religion in the world.
Nature
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The teachings of Islam consist of Muhammed’s
revelations (the Quran). His sayings (the Hadith),
and his life’s journey (the sira). Rough division
would be revelations, teachings and history.
Muhammed is believed to be a prophet, like
Moses and Jesus Christ. His teachings are the
last, and are now to be followed. (cf. John 1:1-5,
14; 3:16; 14:6; Hebrews 1:1-4). Jesus could not
be a prophet, unless He is also the Messiah,
which Muslims deny.
Five pillars of Islam (fundamental requirements
of the religion). 1) Faith; 2) Prayer; 3)
Benevolent giving; 4) Fasting during Ramadan; 5)
Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in life).
Muslims believe in a bodily resurrection, and
eternal salvation based upon works of merit.
Forgiveness for sins can be granted by Allah
upon repentance, if Allah wills to forgive.
Diet is restricted. Pork, blood, carrion and
alcohol prohibited. Food permissible to Muslims
is referred to as halal food.
A Caliphate is a theocracy, a religious state.
Unlike Christianity and modern Judaism, many
Muslims look to the establishment of a Caliphate
and Sharia law (the Muslim legal system).
Radical or Militant Islam is expansionist and
completely intolerant of both any other religion.
To the militant Muslim, jihad refers to a physical
struggle against the enemies of Islam.
Conclusion
Islam is the most prominent of all man-made
religions. Its pervasiveness is the result of centuries
of militant expansionism, and religious fervor,
primarily in the Arab world. However, many from
different cultures and nations have converted, and
large populations of Muslims reside in Europe and
America.
Islam
Wikipedia reference to Islam
Muhammad (610–632)
Muslim tradition views Muhammad (c. 570 – June 8,
632) as the seal of the prophets. During the last 22 years
of his life, beginning at age 40 in 610 CE, according to the
earliest surviving biographies, Muhammad reported
revelations that he believed to be from God, conveyed to
him through the archangel Gabriel. Muhammad's
companions memorized and recorded the content of
these revelations, known as the Qur'an.
By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly
bloodless conquest of Mecca, and by the time of his
death in 632 (at the age of 62) he had united the tribes of
Arabia into a single religious polity
Caliphate and civil strife (632–750)
With Muhammad's death in 632, disagreement broke
out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim
community.
These disputes over religious and political leadership
would give rise to schism in the Muslim community. The
majority accepted the legitimacy of the three rulers prior
to Ali, and became known as Sunnis. A minority
disagreed, and believed that only Ali and some of his
descendants should rule; they became known as the Shia.
Classical era (750–1258)
This era is sometimes called the "Islamic Golden Age".
Public hospitals established during this time are
considered "the first hospitals" in the modern sense of
the word, and issued the first medical diplomas to license
doctors.
The Guinness World Records recognizes the University
of Al Karaouine, founded in 859, as the world's oldest
degree-granting university.
This period contained the greatest cultural and artistic
accomplishments associated with Islam.
Pre-Modern era (1258–20th century)
By the medieval era most of the countries on the Silk
Road were Muslim majority.
Islam spread with Muslim trade networks and Sufi
orders activity that extended into Sub-Saharan Africa,
Central Asia and the Malay archipelago. The Ottomans
challenged European powers on land and sea, and
reached deep into Central Europe at the Siege of Vienna
(1529). Under the Ottoman Empire, Islam spread to
Southeast Europe, Crimea, and the Caucasus.
The Muslim world was generally in serious political
decline starting the 1800s, especially relative to the nonMuslim European powers. The Reconquista, launched
against Muslim principalities in Iberia, succeeded in 1492
and Muslim Sicily was lost to the Normans. By the mid18th century, the Marathas had routed Mughal armies,
and won over several Mughal provinces of India. Further,
by the 19th century the British Empire had formally
ended the last Mughal dynasty in India. The Ottoman
Empire disintegrated after World War I and the Caliphate
was abolished in 1924.
Modern times (20th century–present)
Contact with industrialized nations brought Muslim
populations to new areas through economic migration.
Many Muslims migrated as indentured servants, from
mostly India and Indonesia, to the Caribbean, forming the
largest Muslim populations by percentage in the
Americas. The resulting urbanization and increase in
trade in sub-Saharan Africa brought Muslims to settle in
new areas and spread their faith, likely doubling its
Muslim population between 1869 and 1914. Muslim
immigrants, many as guest workers, began arriving,
largely from former colonies, into several Western
European nations since the 1960s.
Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood
advocate Islam as a comprehensive political solution,
often in spite of being banned. In Iran, revolution
replaced a secular regime with an Islamic state. In Turkey,
the Islamist AK Party has democratically been in power
for about a decade, while Islamist parties did well in
elections following the Arab Spring. The Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC), consisting of Muslim countries,
was established in 1969 after the burning of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem.
Piety appears to be deepening worldwide. In many
places, the prevalence of the Islamic veil is growing
increasingly common and the percentage of Muslims
favoring Sharia laws has increased. With religious
guidance increasingly available electronically, Muslims
are able to access views that are strict enough for them
rather than rely on state clerics who are often seen as
stooges. Some organizations began using the media to
promote Islam such as the 24-hour TV channel, Peace TV.
Perhaps as a result of these efforts, most experts agree
that Islam is growing faster than any other faith in East
and West Africa.